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Beanie, a gibbon ape and one of the oldest residents at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue, climbs on the fence for a pair of visitors Saturday June 11, 2016 at the animal rescue in Fairfield. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Tiki, a blue and gold macaw parrot, perches at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016. The shelter for exotic animals reopened this summer after having to keep its doors closed to the public for two years due to fire damage. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Savannah Mills, 2, of Waynesboro, watches as her father Donny Mills feeds a peanut to one of the emus at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016 in Fairfield. The animal rescue opened to the public once again this year after being closed for two years. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Jeff Sanders, a trained animal handler and volunteer at East Coast Exotic Animal rescue, lets Pia, a white-headed capuchin monkey about 15 years old, rest on his shoulder while feeding her inside her cage Saturday June 11, 2016 at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue. The Fairfield area animal rescue has opened this year after being closed for two years due to damages from fires. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

A cat jumps to the counter at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016 in Fairfield. The animal rescue has opened to the public once again after being closed for two years. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Signs lead visitors around the top of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016. The animal sanctuary in Fairfield has reopened after being closed for two years. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Putunia, a female American alligator, lays in the sun Saturday June 11, 2016 at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in Fairfield. The alligator was brought to the rescue after she grew too big for her owners. "It's very hard to keep them in this environment," said Melissa Bishop, director of development at the animal sanctuary. "They have to go into a heated interior during the winter time." Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

A goat follows a path along the rocks at the top of East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016 in Fairfield. The building that was damaged by fire, seen in background, has been reconstructed after the fires forced the animal sanctuary to close for two years. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

One of the females lions sleeps Saturday June 11, 2016 at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue. The two lions, Nayla and Angel, who make their home at the animal sanctuary in Fairfield, were brought to live at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue after they could no longer be kept at the zoo they originally came from. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Kobie Jones of Chambersburg watches the pair of Siberian tigers with his two daughters, Elaina, 5, right, and Olivia, 4, background, while visiting East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016 in Fairfield. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Shirley Rentzel, of York, tosses peanuts into a pen for goats at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016 in Fairfield. The animal rescue has opened to the public after forcing to close its doors for two years due to damages from fires. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Jeff Sanders, a trained animal handler and volunteer at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue, gives a meal to Burton, a mountain lion, Saturday June 11, 2016 while feeding animals at the animal sanctuary in Fairfield. Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun

Savannah Mills, 2, of Waynesboro, watches as her father Donny Mills feeds a peanut to one of the emus at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue on Saturday June 11, 2016 in Fairfield. The animal rescue opened to the public once again this year after being closed for two years.(Photo: Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun)Buy Photo

Pia, a white-headed capuchin monkey, could no longer receive care after her owner was diagnosed with cancer. She was soon moved to a new home at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue in Fairfield where she wasn't the most cooperative primate.

Along with Pia, East Coast Animal Rescue houses all kinds of animals that are displaced or no longer considered "good zoo exhibits." Animals like Keisha and Khan, two white tigers that were genetically bred for circuses and photo ops who are now struggling with health issues, and Beanie, a gibbon ape and the oldest animal on the premises at 39 years.

"It's like the 'Island of Misfit Toys,'" said Zach Murray, a volunteer and the son of founder and CEO Suzanne Murray.

East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue opened for the first time in two years last weekend after suffering two fires on its premises.

The first fire in May 2014 particularly devastated the rescue. That fire left only one wall of the main facility standing and killed a couple of domestic cats, Bishop recounted.

"It was pretty horrible," Bishop said, recalling panicked and hungry animals being shoved into any available space. Despite the hardships brought on by the fire, animals did not go one day without food or necessary resources, she said.

The fire was started when a wireless router overheated, Bishop said, adding that the old building was like a "tinder box." In the rebuild, one of the first priorities was installing a sprinkler system.

About a year later, another fire was reported on the property, but none of the habitats were damaged.

Bishop said she suspected this fire was set by juveniles. The only damage it caused is visible in a cluster of burnt bamboo.

"The four-letter word fire just scares us half to death," Bishop said. The animal rescue project has since installed security cameras on the grounds.

The 2014 fire left the animal rescue facility with few financial resources.

Bishop credited the success of rebuilding efforts to community support and the financial aid of a grant. Zach Murray said the property was unrecognizable as recently as two months ago.

"If it wasn't for the community, it would have been a whole lot worse," she said.

Local businesses offered services, like landscaping and driveway repair, Bishop said. Individuals contributed as well, driving up "carloads of everything we needed."

"That's what going to make or break this place," Bishop said of the community support. "As long as we have that, we can make this place even more special than it already is."

The opening weekend attracted 700 people in two days, Bishop said. During that weekend, she believes that Louie the boa was the most popular animal; he was featured in many Facebook photos.

While some visitors may see animals with physical disabilities in small spaces, Bishop notes the purpose of the rescue is to improve the quality of life for its animals.

"We only take animals if we can give them a life upgrade," she said.

This means that if East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue can offer a creature more comfort, space and care, that animal will be accepted to live on the 84-acre property.

With each exhibit, the rescue aims to provide headed indoor and outdoor habitats for the animal's comfort. Bishop said they recently completed a yard so Keisha and Khan can have grass in their enclosure.

"That's the kind of habitat we want for all our animals," Bishop said.

Greg Shilling, of Blue Ridge Summit, was one of several parents bringing children to the grounds on Saturday. Shilling, who came with his daughter because "she's really into animals," said he wasn't sure what to expect when he got there, but ended up impressed.

The animals at East Coast Animal Rescue are cared for by volunteers familiar with their traumatic pasts. Just some examples: two capuchin monkeys that came from a laboratory, a cougar with bad arthritis and some New Guinea singing dogs with muscle atrophy from living in a confined space.

Bishop described the animals living on the site as "family" and said they are never forced to be around people. The grounds even feature a memorial garden with ashes of fallen animals from the facility.

"This is their home. This is their retirement. This is their habitat. They do what they want."

Jeff Sanders, a trained animal handler and volunteer at East Coast Exotic Animal rescue, lets Pia, a white-headed capuchin monkey about 15 years old, rest on his shoulder while feeding her inside her cage Saturday June 11, 2016 at East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue. The Fairfield area animal rescue has opened this year after being closed for two years due to damages from fires.(Photo: Shane Dunlap, The Evening Sun)

In a previous version of this story, information regarding the tigers' enclosure and the rescue's mortgage was incorrect. Through a grant, East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue has completed a grass enclosure for the white tigers. In addition, following the 2014 fire, the rescue paid off a portion of its private mortgage and still owes $160,000.